Give an account of the male reproductive system of rabbit. Draw a labelled diagram of it.
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Solution
In the rabbits, the male reproductive system has two parts viz. the reproductive organs and accessory glands. The main organ or male gonad is testis which is present in the scrotum.
(1) Scrotum: The scrotum is a pouch arising from lower abdominal wall. Scrotum protects the testes and acts as thermoregulator. (2) Testes: Testes are primary sex organs. There are germinal epithelial cell which produce the sperms. Seminiferous tubules consists of spermatogonia (sperm mother cells). There are interstitial cells or cells of Leydig which secrete the hormone testosterone.
(3) Vasa deferens : These are the long tube like structure which are responsible for the transport of the sperms. Vasa efferentia are a pair of ducts starting from the rete testis and entering in the epididymis. A pair of tubular structures arising from cauda epididymis are called vasa deferentia. (4) Epididymis: Epididymis are paired structures which are highly coiled duct situated on the posterior border of each testis. It is differentiated into the following three regions. Caput epididymis which is upper wider head that receives vasa efferentia. The sperms undergo physiological maturation acquiring increased motility and fertilizing capacity. Corpus epididymis which is middle narrower body. Cauda epididymis which is a lower duct or tail. In the tail, sperms remain for short period and then enter the vas deferens. (5) Urethra: The urethra is a part which extends to form the penis. Urethra carries both urine and semen.
(6) Penis: Penis is the copulatory organ used for insemination or deposition of sperms in female genital tract. Through the length of penis passes the urethra.
Accessory sex glands:
(1) Prostate gland: This is a gland which lies dorsally around the base of uterus masculinus. It opens into urethra by several small ducts. Its whitish alkaline secretion activates the passive spermatozoa.
(2) Cowper's glands: These glands lie posterior to the prostate gland. Their secretion neutralizes acidity for the protection of spermatozoa.
(3) Perineal glands: These are the glands which are placed behind the Cowper's glands. The odour gives the rabbit a characteristic smell.